The International Council

We conduct independent applied research, taking an international, consultative and multidisciplinary approach. This site is designed to enable you to learn about us and explore our work. You can also post your reactions and interact with us.

Generating discussion about sexuality and human rights

The International Council is pleased to announce the publication of Sexuality and Human Rights, the first in a new series of discussion papers to be published by the International Council. The paper, written by leading academic Alice M. Miller, examines the content of sexual rights and the evolution of their discussion, and identifies a number of problematic issues for further discussion.

The Council first decided to begin work on the subject of sexuality and human rights in early 2008, with the initial aim is to clarify the essential elements of a policy discussion of sexuality and sexual rights from a human rights perspective, and by doing so perhaps enable discussion to progress. On the basis of preliminary research, it became clear that a number of conceptual challenges need to be addressed. The Council therefore commissioned this paper from Alice M. Miller, in order to assist the Council to identify the focus of its project on sexuality.

The paper sets out many of the questions, conflicts and dilemmas that mark this subject and impede discussions of sexuality and sexual rights. It frames the issue in ways that we feel will be useful and fresh for activists, policy-makers and human rights practitioners. We hope its publication will help those working in the field of sexuality to measure the potential relevance of human rights, and help human rights advocates to look more inclusively and more deeply into the subject of sexuality.

More on the ICHRP sexuality projects:
Sexuality
Sexuality and human rights – discussion paper